CHANDIGARH, DEC 14 :Strong contenders St Stephen’s School, Sector 45 and hosts St Kabir School, Sector 26 set up a title clash in the Chandigarh Inter-School Under-13 Football Championship for St Kabir Trophy at the school’s premises in Sector 26 here. The final will be played tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.
St Stephen’s School outplayed St John’s High by 3-0 while St Kabir scored hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Xavier’s School, Sector 44 in a contrasting style in the semi-finals played on Sunday.
Lucky St Kabir School owed their triumph to a brilliant display by their goalkeeper Gautam frustrated the attempts of St Xavier’s High School to move into final. He stood like a stonewall under the bar and made several saves. Showing good anticipation, Gautam readied himself well in time to block a sizzling spot kick taken by St Xavier’s striker Maninder Singh in the 53d minute. Had Xavier’s were able to convert the penalty awarded to them when a St Kabir defender handled the ball inside the box, story should have different.
Both teams were equally balanced and had quota of their chances to score. The half remained a goalless affair. With teams going all out on resumption, St Kabir School were able to score a goal in the 35th minute. Getting a stray pass on top of the dee. Sanchit Budhiraja scored with a measured lob which brooked no denial. The goal turned out to be the match-winner.
Thereafter St Xavier’s pressed hard for the equaliser. They did every thing except scoring. They even muffed the spot kick in the 53rd minute. St Kabir School owed this win to goalkeeper Gautam.
St Kabir School will now meet St Stephen’s School of Sector 45 in the final tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. In the second semi-final St Stephen’s School, which runs a football academy, outplayed St John’s High School, Sector 45 by 3-0. The semi-final was a one-sided traffic. After initial probing, strong contenders St Stephen’s School forged ahead through Karam Partap Singh in the 12th minute.
St Stephen’s were awarded a penalty as a St John’s defender handled the ball inside the proscribed box and Harpal Singh converted it in a smooth action in the 36th minute. Three minutes later Pankaj rounded off the winners’ tally with a fine goal.
Monday’s fixture (final): St Stephen’s School-45 vs St Kabir School-26 (10.30 a.m.)